OS X Lion: iTunes opens to "created by a newer version" alert

If you install iTunes 10.4 or later before upgrading to OS X Lion, iTunes may open with an alert stating that "The file 'iTunes Library' can not be read because it was created by a newer version of iTunes."

Alert upon opening iTunes after installing Mac OS X 10.7 Lion

This article has been archived and is no longer updated by Apple.

Installing an updated version of iTunes should resolve the issue.

  • To access Apple Software Update manually, from the Apple () menu, click Software Update.
  • If Apple Software Update reports that your iTunes is up to date, visit apple.com/itunes/download/ and download the latest iTunes manually.

The iTunes Library files, written by iTunes 10.4 or later, and the media they refer to are not moved by the upgrade to OS X Lion.

Last Modified: